The Untamed Bride Plus Black Cobra 02-03 and Special Excerpt by Stephanie Laurens Page B
Authors: Stephanie Laurens
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manning the portal.
“It’s the perfect place for us to stay,” she murmured.
“Not only is it in the heart of London, but Grillon’s reputation is
based on security and propriety—they would never permit anything so gauche
as an attack of any sort to occur on the premises.”
Del had come to the same conclusion—the ex-solider behind the
counter was watching him steadily, and the doorman who had shown them in had yet
to return outside. He nodded. “All in all, an excellent choice.”
He walked forward. Deliah glided beside him, her long legs allowing
her to keep pace easily. The head clerk behind the counter straightened, all but
coming to attention; after decades in the army, Del’s bearing inevitably
gave him away.
“Can we help you, s—”
“I’m Miss Duncannon.” Deliah laid her gloves on
the counter, waited until the clerk looked her way. “I require a room for
myself, and accommodation for my staff. Colonel Delborough”—with one
hand she waved at him—“will also require a room—”
“And also has various stipulations to make.” Del caught
her eye when she glanced at him, captured her gaze and pointedly held it.
“As I am escorting you north at your parents’ request, it might
perhaps be appropriate for you to consider me in loco
parentis .”
She blinked at him.
His smile took on an edge. “Perhaps you should allow me to
organize our rooms.”
She frowned.
Before she could argue, he looked at the clerk. “Miss
Duncannon will require a suite overlooking the street, preferably with no
balcony.”
The head clerk consulted his list. “We have a suite that might
suit, Colonel—it’s on the first floor, but is some way from the
stairs.”
“That will do admirably. I’ll want a bedchamber myself,
on the same floor, between the suite and the stairs.”
“Indeed, sir.” The head clerk conferred with one of his
underlings, then nodded. “We have a room four doors closer to the stairs,
if that would suit?”
“Perfectly. We also require two more bedchambers for two
gentlemen who will arrive in the next hour or so. Viscount Torrington and the
Earl of Crowhurst. They would prefer to have rooms as close as possible to the
stairs.”
Gervase and Tony were watching the carriages from further along the
street; once they saw they were indeed staying at Grillon’s, they would
head to the Bastion Club to checkfor any messages, then
return to join them.
After more conferring, the head clerk said, “There are two single bedchambers that face the head of the
stairs, but they overlook the lane. They’re rarely requested…”
The clerk looked his question.
Del smiled. “They will suit us perfectly. In addition, as
I’m returning from service in India, and Miss Duncannon is returning from
an extended sojourn in Jamaica, we’re both traveling with household
staff.”
“That will pose no difficulty, sir. Not at this time of year.
If I might suggest, I can consult with your staff directly as to what
arrangements might be best?”
Del nodded. “My batman is Cobby, and…” He looked
at Deliah.
With a slight frown, she supplied, “My majordomo is
Janay.”
“Excellent—I’ll speak with Mr. Cobby and Mr.
Janay. I take it your carriages are outside?” When Del assented, the clerk
dispatched his underlings to direct the carriages into the mews, then came
around the counter. “If you’ll come this way, Colonel, Miss
Duncannon, I’ll show you to your rooms. Your bags will be brought up
momentarily.”
The next hours went in the inevitable bustle of settling
into their rooms. The suite—something Deliah wouldn’t have thought
of to request—was commodious. Both the large sitting room and her
adjoining bedchamber had wide windows overlooking the street. Contrary to her
expectations, Del had managed the arrangements perfectly well. While she dressed
for dinner, she thought again
“It’s the perfect place for us to stay,” she murmured.
“Not only is it in the heart of London, but Grillon’s reputation is
based on security and propriety—they would never permit anything so gauche
as an attack of any sort to occur on the premises.”
Del had come to the same conclusion—the ex-solider behind the
counter was watching him steadily, and the doorman who had shown them in had yet
to return outside. He nodded. “All in all, an excellent choice.”
He walked forward. Deliah glided beside him, her long legs allowing
her to keep pace easily. The head clerk behind the counter straightened, all but
coming to attention; after decades in the army, Del’s bearing inevitably
gave him away.
“Can we help you, s—”
“I’m Miss Duncannon.” Deliah laid her gloves on
the counter, waited until the clerk looked her way. “I require a room for
myself, and accommodation for my staff. Colonel Delborough”—with one
hand she waved at him—“will also require a room—”
“And also has various stipulations to make.” Del caught
her eye when she glanced at him, captured her gaze and pointedly held it.
“As I am escorting you north at your parents’ request, it might
perhaps be appropriate for you to consider me in loco
parentis .”
She blinked at him.
His smile took on an edge. “Perhaps you should allow me to
organize our rooms.”
She frowned.
Before she could argue, he looked at the clerk. “Miss
Duncannon will require a suite overlooking the street, preferably with no
balcony.”
The head clerk consulted his list. “We have a suite that might
suit, Colonel—it’s on the first floor, but is some way from the
stairs.”
“That will do admirably. I’ll want a bedchamber myself,
on the same floor, between the suite and the stairs.”
“Indeed, sir.” The head clerk conferred with one of his
underlings, then nodded. “We have a room four doors closer to the stairs,
if that would suit?”
“Perfectly. We also require two more bedchambers for two
gentlemen who will arrive in the next hour or so. Viscount Torrington and the
Earl of Crowhurst. They would prefer to have rooms as close as possible to the
stairs.”
Gervase and Tony were watching the carriages from further along the
street; once they saw they were indeed staying at Grillon’s, they would
head to the Bastion Club to checkfor any messages, then
return to join them.
After more conferring, the head clerk said, “There are two single bedchambers that face the head of the
stairs, but they overlook the lane. They’re rarely requested…”
The clerk looked his question.
Del smiled. “They will suit us perfectly. In addition, as
I’m returning from service in India, and Miss Duncannon is returning from
an extended sojourn in Jamaica, we’re both traveling with household
staff.”
“That will pose no difficulty, sir. Not at this time of year.
If I might suggest, I can consult with your staff directly as to what
arrangements might be best?”
Del nodded. “My batman is Cobby, and…” He looked
at Deliah.
With a slight frown, she supplied, “My majordomo is
Janay.”
“Excellent—I’ll speak with Mr. Cobby and Mr.
Janay. I take it your carriages are outside?” When Del assented, the clerk
dispatched his underlings to direct the carriages into the mews, then came
around the counter. “If you’ll come this way, Colonel, Miss
Duncannon, I’ll show you to your rooms. Your bags will be brought up
momentarily.”
The next hours went in the inevitable bustle of settling
into their rooms. The suite—something Deliah wouldn’t have thought
of to request—was commodious. Both the large sitting room and her
adjoining bedchamber had wide windows overlooking the street. Contrary to her
expectations, Del had managed the arrangements perfectly well. While she dressed
for dinner, she thought again
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